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Have you heard? Texas author J.T. Bishop has a new book out. It’s a sequel to the Red Line Trilogy and it’s called Curse Breaker . The ...

Have you heard? Texas author J.T. Bishop has a new book out. It’s a sequel to the Red Line Trilogyand it’s called Curse Breaker. The series is paranormal suspense and Curse Breaker can be read before or after the first three. Enjoy this guest post from the author!

My Writing Rules

For any aspiring author, I’m sure you’ve come across a set of writing rules. The do’s and don’ts of how to write a great book or story. If you’ve read any of these lists, you’ll recognize the similar items that tend to make the cut. Be wary of adverbs, no head-hopping, use active instead of passive voice, and write every day to name a few. All of these are correct along with many others. Just do a google search and you can read all about it.

Every writer who has written for any length of time likely has suggestions. Now that I’m about to publish my fifth book, I wondered what mine would be. What is my advice to you to create a great work of your own?

First up, my most important rule would be to write what you love. Hands down if you don’t do this, you will struggle to enjoy the act of putting pen to paper. You’ll hear about what sells best, what authors are doing that works for them, advice to keep your book a certain length. All of these have merit, but if you’re doing something because someone told you to do it and not because you want to do it or are called to do it, then your writing will suffer.

Second, write when you can. This may or may not mean every day. Every writer is different. For some, it’s necessary to get in a certain word count daily. For others, it’s better to write when they have a decent stretch of interrupted time. I could write every day, but I don’t feel I have to. If I’m writing a book, several days can go by without me working on it, and when I return, I can pick up the pen again as if I’d written the day before. Don’t let the “write every day” rule bother you. As long as you’re consistent and write when you’re able, you can succeed.

Third, there is a rhythm to writing, an ebb and a flow. When you read your words, do they carry the story with ease, inviting the reader to read more? Do the words engage, the sentences invite, and the paragraphs immerse the reader in the story? There’s a feel to writing which translates into an emotional experience for the reader. If you can do this, you will always have fans.

Fourth, know the basics. If you don’t know a noun from a pronoun, where to put a comma, or how to write a proper sentence, then no matter how good your story is, you’re going to have a difficult time getting it on paper. Take a course to improve your skills. Your editor will thank you.

Fifth, be open to change. You can outline all day long, come up with the perfect plan, and start your project, but once you begin, anything can pop up - a new character, a new story arc, or an inviting twist you didn’t consider before. Be open to this. I’ve had some of my best ideas appear while writing. The very act itself summons energy, and can show you things you would not have seen otherwise. Give these creative juices an outlet. They showed up for a reason.

There are other tips I could mention, but for now, these are the ones I consider the most important. There are others you will find on your standard list you will find helpful, especially if you’re new to writing. But for me, the above pointers have been instrumental in my journey, and I hope they can help you on yours.

She'll risk her life to break his curse, but revealing the truth could be far more dangerous.

In high school, a friend’s mother blames Grayson Steele for the tragic death of her daughter. Now, years later, Grayson is wealthy and successful, but on the brink of suicide. Because the women he loves are dying. And he can’t stop it.

Knowing about Grayson’s circumstances, Gillian Fletcher derives a plan. Catch the killer who’s making Grayson Steele’s life a living hell. But there’s only one way to do it. She has to be the bait.

As Grayson and Gillian’s plan takes shape, they must not only expose a killer, but also their feelings for each other. The further they go, the more secrets they will reveal. Secrets that will illuminate not just a murderer, but shocking truths that neither may be prepared to face.

Truths that will change their future forever.

Curse Breaker is an Indie Brag Medallion winner and the fourth book in J. T. Bishop's award-winning Red-Line paranormal suspense series. It can be read before or after her Red-Line trilogy. If you love murder mysteries, page turners, and fast-paced stories, then you'll love this compelling book by award-winning author J. T. Bishop.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Born and raised in Dallas, TX, J. T. Bishop began writing in 2012. Inspired by a video that theorized the meaning of the end of the Mayan calendar, J. T. began the Red-Line trilogy. The video surmised that the earth was the central hub of activity for extraterrestrials thousands of years ago. J.T. didn’t know whether that was true or not, but it did spawn an idea. What if those extraterrestrials were still here? Two years and a lot of work later, the first three Red-Line books were complete, but she’s not done. The Red-Line saga develops as she continues to write new books.

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